Compartmental dispensing container for nose and throat preparations



Aug. 30, 1966 B. 1.. MEURER E AL 3,259,359

COMPARTMENTAL DISPENSING CONTAINER FOR NOSE AND THROAT PREPARATIONS Filed March 11, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 B. L. M50125? 3,269,389 FOR Aug 30, W66 13. 1... MEURER ET AL COMPARTMENTAL DISPENSING CONTAINER NOSE AND THROAT PREPARATIONS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 11, 1965 Uwavmm Wm MM 1. Hams/2 .5 4. MEUQER United States Patent CUMPARTMENTAL DISPENSING CONTAINER FOR NOSE AND THROAT PREPARATIONS Bernard L. Meurer and William L. Fisher, both of Adair, Howa Filed Mar. 11, 1963, Ser. No. 264,421 8 Claims. (Cl. 128-198) This application is a continuation-in-part of our two co-pending applications, Serial No. 114,528, filed June 2,

1961 (which was a continuation-in-part of our application, Serial No. 41,343, filed July 7 ,1960); and Serial No. 58,641 filed September 27, 1960. These applications are abandoned. The latter application was directed to a nose and throat preparation, and the former application relates to a multi-nratter dispensing container.

This invention relates to a preparation for the treatment of certain nose and throat ailments and more particularly related to two separate non-compatible fluids which are simultaneously sprayed or otherwise applied to the afflicted areas at the time of use. In addition, this invention relates to a dispensing container capable of successfully holding and simultaneously dispensing at least two incompatible materials or fluids.

There are many instances where two given materials or fluids cannot be mixed prior to time of use. As an illustration, it is often necessary to successfully treat a head cold by using two or more non-compatible chemicals. If these two chemicals were previously placed together in a container, one or both would be neutralized by the other, or a chemical reaction might well take place and produce a highly undesirable fluid. The use of plastic squeeze bottles are now in general usage, but obviously when two non compatible fluids are needed, the only solution to the problem herebefore has been the use of two separate containers. This is not only objectionable, but it well may be difficult to obtain at time of use the proper proportions of the two separate chemicals.

One almost universal shortcoming of present day nose and throat spray formulas is that they do not loosen and raise deposits and membranes so that the antiseptic ingredients can directly attack the wounds or inflamed skin tissues. The problem, of course, is that a gas producing agent for raising the deposits or like of the afllicted area would in most cases be non-compatible with many antiseptic agents,

Therefore, one of the principal objects of our invention is to provide a single flexible resilient unit container that will successfully hold in separate compartments two non-compatible products until they have been separately but simultaneously exited from the container.

A further object of this invention is to provide a materiai or fluid dispensing container that is capable of exiting two separate streams of two separate materials or fluids, with the volume of each relative to the volume of the other.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a a double compartment spray bottle unit that may be easily filled with liquids at any time.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a spray nozzle for liquid containers that mixes the liquid with air just prior to, or simultaneous with, the exiting of the liquid.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a spray bottle that is completely closed at its nozzle end by its detachable cap.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a double chemical dispensing container unit that is economical in manufacture, durable in use and refined in appearance.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a preparation consisting of two separated non-compatible solutions that are brought together only at time of use or directly before use so that one solution will not neutralize or kill the other.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a preparation that will eiiectively kill or render impotent objectionable germs in the nose and throat passageways.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a nose and throat preparation that not only successfully destroys cold germs, flu and virus, but de-toxifies the entire body thereby relieving inflammatory conditions that may be caused by such cold germs and/or virus.

Still further objects of our invention are to provide an effective nose and throat preparation for the treatment of afliicted areas that is economical in manufacture and safe in use.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Our invention consists in the construction arrangements, and combination, of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in our claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of our complete bottle unit,

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of our device taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a perspective exploded view of the nose piece, the adapter head, the upper portion of the two containers that make up the bottle unit and tubes,

FIG. 4 is a modified form of our invention showing a specific means for securing the bottle elements together,

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the device in FIG. 4 taken on line 55 of that figure when the bottle elements are secured to each other,

FIG. 6 is another form of our invention showing another means for securing the bottle elements together,

FIG. 7 is a top view of the bottles of FIG. 6 in assembled condition,

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a further form of our invention wherein the separate bottles are secured together by a frictional band, and

FIG. 9 is a top elevational view of the assembled bottles of FIG. 8.

In these drawings, we have used the numerals 10 and 11 to designate the two containers that. go to make up the bottle unit. Each container is a duplicate of the other in that each has a flat side and an outer curved side. These two containers are secured together (with their two flat sides together) by a collar tray 12 that embraces and retains their bottom areas as shown in FIG. 2. On the upper end of each container is a neck portion 13 having a flat side flush with the flat side of the container of which it is a part. These two adjacent neck portions of the two compartments form. a circular neck as shown in FIG. 3 and around which are external threads 15. Detachably threaded onto these threads 15 is a cap member 16 having an inside flat top 17 as shown in FIG. 2.

The neck portion 13 of each container has an enclosing fiat top 19. The numeral 20 designates a hole in the top 19 of the neck portion of the container 1t) and the numeral 21 designates a hole in the top 19 of the neck portion of the container 11.

The bottle unit is of flexible resilient plastic material and to obtain matter therefrom it is manually squeezed in the usual manner. The bottle unit will obviously have two compartments 22 and 23. The compartment 22 will contain one material or fluid and the compartment 23 will contain a different material or fluid. The numeral 25 generally designates the adapter head. On the bottom of the adapter head are two spaced apart downwardly extending cylindrical lugs 26 and 27. These two lugs 26 and 27 frictionally detachably extend through the holes 21 and 22 respectively.

Extending through the lug 26 and the adapter head is a passageway 29. Extending through the lug 27 and the adapter head is a passageway 30. By this arrangement of parts the vertical passageway 29 communicates with the inside top of the compartment 22 and the vertical passageway 30 communicates with the inside top of the compartment 23. Completely across the top of the adapter head 25 is a cross groove 31. The numeral 32 designates a peripheral collar on the adapter head and positioned below its upper plane as shown in FIG. 3. The numeral 33 generally designates the nose or nozzle part. This part 33 has a downwardly extending skirt that detachably embraces the upper end area of the adapter head and engages and is stopped from downward sliding movement by the collar 32. The main portion of the nozzle is cone shaped and has a flat top surface 34. The diameter of the nozzle 33 is sufiicient to completely fill the nostril of a user when the device is used as a nose spray. The numeral 35 designates a downwardly extending cross bar in the lower portion of the nozzle 33 and which fits into the adapter head slot 31 when the device is assembled.

At one side of the cross bar 35 is an upwardly extending passageway 36 exiting through a raised projection 39 on the flat top 34 of the nozzle 33.

At the other side of the cross bar 35 is an upwardly extending passageway 37 exiting through a raised projection 40 on the flat top 34 of the nozzle.

When the cap 16 is screwed onto the neck 13, it will embrace the nozzle 33 and its inside flat top 17 will engage the projections 39 and 40, thus closing the passageways 36 and 37.

The numeral 41 designates a flexible plastic conduit having its outer surface longitudinally ribbed. When the unit is assembled, this conduit will extend from the inside bottom of the compartment 22, loosely upwardly through the hole 20, loosely through the hole passageway 29 and into the passageway 36. The end of the conduit that extends into the passageway 36 will frictionally engage the same and be held therein. The numeral 42 designates a second flexible plastic conduit having its outer surface longitudinally ribbed. This conduit 42 extends from the inside bottom of the compartment 23, loosely upwardly through the hole 21, loosely upwardly through the hole passageway 30 and frictionally into the passageway 37.

In FIGS. 4 through 9, we have shown containers 10A, 11A, 10B, 11B, 10C and 11C which are all substantially identical to containers 10 and 11, respectively. However, container 10A has four lugs 44 on the outer center face 45 thereof which are detachably and frictionally received in registering slots 46 in container 11A. Similarly, in FIGS. 6 and 7, the shoulders 46' on the vertical sides of container 11B are slidably and frictionally received in the registering grooves 48 on the vertical sides of container 10B. A continuous flexible frictional band 48' detachably frictionally embraces the containers 10C and 11C in FIGS. 8 and 9. Thus all of these containers can be easily detached from each other as the occasion requires.

As before indicated, our preparation has at least two solutions that are not compatible and, therefore, they cannot be mixed and bottled together any substantial period of time prior to use. These two solutions are hydrogen peroxide and boric acid. Both hydrogen peroxide and boric acid are well known and recognized as of value in the clinical field. However, if a hydrogen peroxide solution is placed with a boric acid solution, the boric acid solution is rapidly neutralized and killed by the hydrogen peroxide.

It is well known that hydrogen peroxide is a cleansing agent for suppurating wounds and like. It is especially useful for this purpose because it develops a gas which tends to loosen and lift adhering deposits. Quite possibly the cleansing action of hydrogen peroxide in wounds is due to its ability to remove organic detritus which forms a breeding place for the micro-organisms, although hydrogen peroxide does have an antibacterial styptic action. Also, the use of hydrogen peroxide produces rapid coagulation, and in general may be considered as an antiseptic as it kills bacteria upon contact. Hydrogen peroxide is evanescent and when applied to human tissues is a mild irritant that stimulates the metabolism of the tissues.

A boric acid solution, as well as benzoic acid, is a highly desirable antiseptic and weak solutions thereof are even used for the treatment of inflamed eyes. Furthermore, boric acid is not evanescent as hydrogen peroxide, but persists until washed away by natural secretion of the body. Boric acid, conversely to the irritating nature of hydrogen peroxide, soothes the tissues. Other helpful solutions such as diphenhydramine HCl and phenylephrine HCl are used along with the boric acid. Also a small amount of oil of peppermint may be used with both the boric acid and the hydrogen peroxide. The relative percentage amounts by weigth of the materials used may be changed but from experimentation we recommend that the two batches of solutions be prepared substantially as follows.

First Solution Percent by weight Hydrogen peroxide (.225 gm.) 1.5000 Distilled water (14.7748 gm.) 98.4987

Oil of peppermint (.0002 gm.) .0013

Second Solution Boric acid (.3200 gm.) .2133 Benzoic acid (.00200 gm.) .0133 Diphenhydrarnine HCl (.02500 gm.) .1666 Phenylephrine HCl (.00025 gin.) .0016 Oil of peppermint (.00020 gm.) .0013 Distilled water (14.94055 gm.) 99.0039

From the above it will be seen that our nose and throat preparation consists of two seperate solutions but which are placed together into one composition at time of use. This may be accomplished by placing the first solution itno one of the compartments 22 or 23, and by placing the second solution into the other compartment 22 or 23.

By the above-described arrangement of parts, when the cap is removed and the bottle unit squeezed, liquid from the compartment 22 will be forced through the conduit 41 and out of the passageway 36 and liquid from the compartment 23 will be forced through the conduit 42 and out of the passageway 37. However and due to the longitudinal ribbing of the conduits, air will also mix with and exit with the liquid being sprayer or atomized. The squeezing of the bottle unit will force air in the upper end of the compartment 22, to pass through the hole 20, hole passageway 29, and between the ribs of the conduit 41, into and out of the passageway 36. In the same manner air will be forced from the upper part of the compartment 23, through the hole 21, through the hole passageway 30, and between the ribs of the conduit 42, into and out of the passageway 37.

To fill, or refill the compartments of the bottle with suitable liquids, the parts are removed as shown in FIG. 3, and the liquids poured through the holes 29 and 30, respectively. By the lug projections 26 and 27 extending into the holes 20 and 21, respectively, the upper ends of the containers 10 and 11 will be held together. The diameter of the conduit 41 and conduit 42 should be substantially less than that of the inside diameters of the holes 20, 21, 29 and 30.

For the unit to function, and for the various parts to frictionally yieldingly hold together in assembled condition the material of which they are made should have some resiliency and flexibility. Suitable plastic such as linear polyethylene or the like is recommended.

As the hole passageways 29 and 30 are further apart from each other than the exit holes 36 and 37 are from each other, the upper end portions of the conduits 41 and 42 are bent inwardly and toward each other, thereby making the frictional holding of the upper ends of the conduits in the hole passageways 36 and 37, more successful.

When the two solutions are placed together and into a single solution for use, all of the products will be reduced one-half by the weight shown in the above illustration of the two solutions so that the final product will be designated by 100 percent by Weight.

When the product is used, both solutions are effective to kill bacteria in the nasal and throat passages sprayed thereby. Additionally, a by-product of the combined spraying occurs in that the mildly irritating effect of the hydrogen peroxide on the tissues is counteracted by the action of the boric acid thereon. Whereas boric acid continues its anti-bacterial activity, it simultaneously acts to soothe the irritated tissues.

Thus, a continuous, sequential irritating and soothing action on the tissues occurs, increasing the metabolism and thereby increasing the blood supply to the affected tissues. These tissues are consequently rendered healthier and more capable of self anti-bacterial activity. By this one-two type treatment of the affiic-ted areas, the bacteria are not only killed, but an unfavorable breeding ground has been established.

The use of our product is excellent prior to any atfliction inasmuch as it will render the 'areas of the body objectionable to germs, virus and like. Although we have discussed our product as particularly desirable for the treatment of the nose and throat, obviously it may be used on other areas of the body. Thus, from the foregoing, it is seen that our invention will accomplish at least all of its stated obgiectives.

Some changes may be made in our invention without departing from the real spirit and purpose of our inven tion and it is our intention to cover by our claims any modified solutions, structures or equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

We claim:

1. In a bottle,

a resilient container having a one-half neck portion with a hole in its top,

a second resilient container having a one-half neck portion with a hole in its top,

said two containers being adjacent and their two onehalf neck portions forming together a cylindrical neck portion,

a nozzle having two outlet passageways operatively secured to said cylinderical neck portion,

a flexible conduit extending from inside said first container, loosely through the hole in its half neck portion and into one of the outlet passageways of said nozzle and a flexible conduit extending from inside said second container, loosely through the hole in its half neck portion, and into the other outlet passageway of said nozzle; and

said two holes in said neck portion being of a distance apart, greater than that of the distance between the two outlet passageways of said nozzle.

2. In a bottle,

a resilient container having a one-half neck portion with a hole in its top,

a second resilient con-tainer having a one-half neck portion with a hole in its top,

said two containers being adjacent and their two onehalf neck portions forming together a cylindrical neck portion,

a head member having a lug extending downwardly in the hole of one of said one-half neck portions and having a second lug extending downwardly in the hole of the other said one-half neck portion,

said first lug and head member having a passageway extending through them,

said second lug and head member having a passageway extending through them,

a nozzle having two outlet passageways,

a conduit extending from inside said first container, loosely through the passageway in said first lug and head member and into one of the outlet passageways of said nozzle,

a conduit extending from inside said second container, loosely through the passageway in said second lug and head member and into the other passageway of said nozzle,

and a means for securing said nozzle to said head memher.

3. In a bottle.

a resilient container having a one-half neck portion with a hole in its top,

a second resilient container having a one-half neck portion with a hole in its top,

said two containers being adjacent and their two onehalf neck portions forming together a cylindrical neck portion,

a head member having a lug extending downwardly in the hole of one of said one half neck portions and having a second lug extending downwardly in the hole of the other said one-half neck portion,

said head member having a groove formed in its upper end extending diametrically thereof,

said first lug and head member having a passageway extending through them,

said second lug and head member having a passageway extending through them,

a nozzle having two outlet passageways,

a cross-bar extending longitudinally of said nozzle and between said two outlet passageways,

said bar adapted to be received in said groove in said head member,

a conduit extending from inside said first container, loosely through the passageway in said first lug and head member and into one of the outlet passageways of said nozzle, and

a conduit extending from inside said second container, loosely through the passageway in said second lug and head member and into the other passageway of said nozzle.

4. In a bottle of unitary construction and a first container having a fluid compartment and a onehalf neck portion at its upper end, said first container having an opening in its upper end,

a second container having a fluid compartment and a one-half neck portion at its upper end, said second container having an opening in its upper end,

said first and second containers being detachable from each other,

said first and second containers being of identical construction and being positioned in side by side relationship,

a single nozzle means having two outlet passageways with separate conduits extending from the passageways through the said openings into one each of said fluid compartments,

and means detachably securing said containers in side by side relationship.

5. The bottle of claim 4 wherein said means detachably securing said containers in side by side relationship includes lugs on one container detach-ably frictionally inserted into registering slots on the other container.

6. The bottle of claim 4 wherein said means detachably securing said containers in side by side relationship includes shoulders on one contaner inserted into registering grooves on the other container.

7. The bottle of claim 4 wherein said means detach- 7 8 ably securing said containers in side by side relationship 2,661,870 12/ 1953 Huenergardt 222129 includes a band frictionally detachably embracing said 2,876,935 3/1959 Lindberg 222145 first and second containers. 2,941,696 6/ 1960 Homm 222-394 X 8. The bottle of claim 4 wherein said means detach- 3,079,299 2/ 1963 Heilig 16758 ably securing said containers in side by side relationship 5 includes a flexible band frictionally detachably embrac- FOREIGN PATENTS ing said first and second containers. 4605 45 10/ 1949 Canada- 1,099,180 3/1955 France. References Cited by the Examiner OTHER REFERENCES UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Pharmaceutical Formulas, 12th Edition The Chemist 704,105 7/1902 Read 222 145 and Druggist, London (1953, pp. 266, 268 and 297). 975,354 11/1910 Gru ter et a1 16758 997 0 0 7 1911 d i 22 142 RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

Maignen Exannner 1,568,160 1/1926 Hi'bbert 222 142.3 X 15 

1. IN A BOTTOLE, A RESILIENT CONTAINER HAVING A ONE-HALF NECK PORTION WITH A HOLE IN ITS TOP, A SECOND RESILIENT CONTAINER HAVING A ONE-HALF NECK PORTION WITH A HOLE IN ITS TOP, SAID TWO CONTAINERS BEING ADJACENT AND THEIR TWO ONEHALF NECK PORTIONS FORMING TOGETHER A CYLINDRICAL NECK PORTION, A NOZZLE HAVING TWO OUTLET PASSAGEWAYS OPERATIVELY SECURED TO SAID CYLINDRICAL NECK PORTION, A FLEXIBLE, CONDUIT EXTENDING FROM INSIDE SAID FIRST CONTAINER, LOOSELY THROUGH THE HOLE IN ITS HALF NECK PORTION AND INTO ONE OF THE OUTLET PASSAGEWAYS OF SAID NOZZLE AND A FLEXIBLE CONDUIT EXTENDING FROM ITSIDE SAID SECOND CONTAINER, LOOSELY THROUGH THE HOLE IN ITS HALF NECK PORTION, AND INTO THE OTHER OUTLET PASSAGEWAY OF SAID NOZZLE; AND SAID TWO HOLES IN SAID NECK PORTION BEING OF A DISTANCE APART, GREATER THAN THAT OF THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE TWO OUTLET PASSAGEWAYS OF SAID NOZZLE. 